Obituary of David Chmelew

David Chmelew, 95, of East Brunswick passed away on December 27, 2018. He was born in Irvington in 1923 and graduated from Jamesburg High School. He enlisted in the Navy in WWII and served on the USS ALLAGASH, he was honorably discharged as a Petty Officer Second Class and the conclusion of WWII. He then worked at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck. After he was employed for Hoffmann-La Roche where he worked constructing the first prototype defibrillator. He concluded his working career as a parts inspector for RCA and GE satellite division. He was a member of the Molly Pitcher Post No. 434, American Legion, Englishtown. He was a lifelong auto racing fan and traveled to tracks all over NJ and PA. He is predeceased by his wife, Mae Chmelew in 2004 and survived by a daughter, Joyce Poignonnec, East Brunswick, a grandson, William "Guy" Poignonnec, Wilmington, NC, a great grandson, William "Billy" David Poignonnec, Wilmington, NC, a sister Lydia Nilsen, Freehold, nephew, Andrew Nilsen of Manalapan, and nieces, Leah Beck of Pennsylvania and Sarah Nilsen of Vermont. He was always larger than life to us, he will always be loved and missed. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to a charity of one’s choice.